Foldaway bench-table shipping-storage unit



May 15, 1956 F. c. THOMPSON 2,745,466

FOLDAWAY BENCH-TABLE SHIPPING-STORAGE: UNIT Filed July 22, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR PREM-:RACK C. THoMPsoN BY MYQWM/ ATTORNEYS May 15, 1956 F, c. THOMPSON FOLDAWAY BENCH-TABLE SHIPPING-STORAGE UNIT Filed July 22. 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a, NvN

INVENTOR FREDERICK C. THOMPSON BMM Mfg/Ww ATTORNEYS F. c. THOMPSON 2,745,466

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 N S m w H Nl M W N E O mlm W m Q n mm, 7/- I .,T A www C M a m. R M F BY JM FOLDAWAY BENCH-TABLE SHIPPING-STORAGE UNIT May 15, 1956 Filed July 22, 1952 United States Patent O FOLDAWAY BENCH-rasta srmPmG-STORAGE UNrr Frederick C. Thompson, Washington, D. C., assigner to Converti-Bench Corporation, Washington, l). C., a corporation of Delaware Application .luiy 22, 1952, Serial No. 300,310

6 Claims. (Cl. 155-43) The present invention relates to a dual purpose piece of furniture and more particularly to a piece of furniture usable either as a bench or bench-table and foldable into a compact box-like form free from external surface deformations likely to interfere with ready storing and stacking when not in use.

The present invention constitutes an improvement in bench-table furniture combinations of the general type disclosed in United States Letters Patent 1,792,737, issued February 17, 1931, to Milfred L. Greenstreet and 2,509,- 556, issued May 30, 1950, to Ralph l-l. Zimmerman, John M. Gordon and the present applicant. Devices of this character are most useful in picnic areas of public parks and field use by Army and like units or motion picture companies when on location in shooting pictures and in school, or like buildings to furnish a large room provided 2 for multi-purpose use as a gymnasium, auditorium and lunch room as needs dictate. This furniture piece also provides an excellent piece of yard furniture for the home owner interested in outdoor barbecue pits and backyard picnics. To properly serve all of these purposes, a neat, sturdy but compact foldaway unit is highly desirable to withstand the repeated handling in such building use, outdoor use and for storing and transportation purposes yet easy operation. In addition, the parts should be readily assembled in manufacture to minimize cost and all parts should preferably be permanently attached to the seat or back-table boards and devoid of removable nuts, bolts and the like that may be easily misplaced or lost.

It is, therefore, the primary object of this invention to provide a dual purpose bench, bench-table construction which is sturdy, stable, and easily operable in changing from one use to another and in setting up and dismounting yet which in its foldaway condition provides an easily handled, readily stackable storage unit.

A further important object of this invention resides in providing a dual purpose bench, bench-table with a minimum of normally separable parts which may be easily and quickly swung from a stored position to a usable position or vice versa.

Another object of this invention is to provide a main leg-support structure of simple planar form that may be readily produced with a minimum of manufacturing equipment and attached in place for easy manipulation between stored and supporting position.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a back-table board support structure of simple form that will effectively support the back-table board in either its bench back or table top positions and still be attached in place for easy manipulation between stored and supporn'ng position.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a novel seat board assembly and a novel back-table board assembly formed along their longitudinal edges with relatively wear resistant, reinforcing portions which define between them a storage recess for the respective support structures and are arranged to 2,745,466 Patented May 15, 1956 ice abuttingly engage in stored position to provide a box-likel v unit having outer faces free of projections and suitable for level stacking either on edge or on their major faces.

Still another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a back-table board assembly having permanently attached support posts designed to support the back-table board either in bench back or table top position in transverse alignment with the seat board.

Another object of the present invention resides in providing a support structure mounting assembly for a bench, back-table, including a universal connecting member, that may be readily Prefabricated and assembled in place on seat boards or back-table boards of varying length without the need of-performing special assembly operations on the seat or back table boards.

A further object'of the present invention resides inY providing a novel universal joint connection for a bench, bench-table of simple yet sturdy and reliable construction.

Still another object of the present invention resides in providing bench leg support reinforcing rods with novel adjustable ball engaging sockets at one end and novel leg connections at the other thereby adapting said rods for permanent adjustable connection to the seat yboard and Y ready association with the leg supports.

Further objects will appear from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended claims and attached drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the storage- Figure 4 is a rear View of the bench, bench-table of this invention as seen from the right of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Figure 1 and illustrating the novel support structure mounting assembly and novel universal joint connection of the present invention;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken on line 6 6 of Figure 3 and illustrating the manner of securing the novel leg support structure in supporting position;

Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of the seat board assembly of the present invention showing how the leg structures and leg reinforcing rods are connected thereto and stored therein;

Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of the back-table board assembly of the present invention showing how the support posts are connected` thereto and stored therein;

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional View taken on line 9 9 of Figure 7 and illustrating the novel adjustable ball engaging sockets provided on the attached ends of the seat board leg support reinforcing rods;

Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 10 10 of Figure 3 illustrating the novel leg connections provided on the opposite ends of the seat board leg support reinforcing rods; and Y Figure 11 is a fragmental rear view of a bench, benchtable of this invention illustrating a modilied back-table board support post designed to assure transverse alignment of the back-table board and seat board when the back-table board is disposed in position to serve as a bench back, the dot-dash line illustration depicting the stored position of the modied supportl post.`

With continued reference to the drawings wherein like parts or elements in the various views are designated by the same reference numerals, the numeral 15 indicates the storage or shipping unit provided by the bench, bench table ofV Athis inventionr when condition., Referringfor the'moment'toFigures 1 and 2, Vof the drawing, storage or shipping unit 15 is composed of acombined benchboard-table board assembly 1 6.v and :a seat boarfd assembly'17 securedtogetherat their-four "inches suitably reinforced to prevent sagging 'in use Yby longitudinallS/extendingreinforcing strips v25 preferably'of y1` "inch'lbyfZB/Lt inch'rrabbeted'at 126 (Figures 1 and 2) to receive the longitudinalmarginal edges of seat boardV 24.Y

` Strips 25 at/"the upperouter ed'gersadjacentthe rabbeted portions 2.6 vare rounded 'as'indicated-'at Y2'7to'prevent splintering and providedroundedjseatedgesfor comfort.

` While anysuitable Vmeans of .securing strips 25 vtofsea'tV disposed in its foldaway corners by"respective two part separablefasteners 18 preferably disposed'onftheinside faces ofje'dge walls 19 '1 and 20 ofthe storageunit. While fasteners 18 may be fof any `suitable construction, they preferably takerthe 'Y form ofthe well known twofpartV trunk type Vfastener. made Vup' Vofafrigicri*hooky element 21 connected preferably toassemblyrl and pivoted clasp element-22 connected Y' preferably A.to assembly v17. Such fasteners inoperation draw the 'respective assemblies vt'ogwhich they arese'cured toward each other under considerable force toscani'e themifinfunitary connectedfrelationship in well known v' manner. -v Ifdesired, the abutting edges 'of assemblies 16 and 17 maybe lmatingly rabbetedrinotshown) topositively retainthe-assemblies; against sidewise dissociation.

Asclea'rly seen from Figurcsel-andledge walls 19 and; 2 0gof'gnnit 15.` as well :as` the fexposed seat'board -and i backtable 'board:surfacesarefree ofzexternalprotuber` alnCcS, Cnsequently, .the storage or shipping units. 15v Y be safelyastored von any ofgrits four -sides without VVVV"deugen'off-tipping overand stacked one uponxthe: other f y in stable'flevelpiles. Y

'Y `In order to obtainthis :desirable :'smoothsurfacedfrec- Vtangular'stdrageand shippingtnnit, the present invention n Vcontemplates a novelconstructionof lthe seatlboardassembly 17 and a novel* back board=table boardassembly F16 constructed torespectively eifectively'hous'e the seat'board VVleg support structure and the `back board-table board fsupport'structure and receive between them aseat board- -Referring first totheseatv board assembly y17 andto VFigures 2, 3, 4 and 7. in particular,V seat board assembly l'lfcomprse'sra seat-boardf24-preferably made of 5/ inch rplywoodfof, -l or 12 footlength as desired,rallow ing 2 feet of' seatingper person, fand awidth of 171/2 The longitudinal edges VVof seat Vboard 24 are board (24V Amay `be 'e1:r 1ployed,V` the" present invention contemplates a nailed and glued joint utilizing any suitable lwaterproof adhesive.

clearly'seen in FigureVv 2, strips 25' depend below h face 28.of seat board 2 4 approximately 21/3 inches definngwith face'28an` open sided,V open ended @recess 29.

Recess '29." is ofI suicient depth yto receive the seat 'board' leg support structure comprising. respectiveleg support assemblies '31 located preferably inwardly 'of the opposite ends -of seat board 24 and most of cushion 23. For economy, easeA of manufacture andllong life when exposedfto A"thef elements, each assembly 31 comprises aleg structure v dftubular steel or aluminum. Y Eachvassernblyis made up` of avlongllength'of ll/ sinchl outer diameter cold 'rolled' tubing V32 having a front substantially verti'ealVV section 33having its upper end terminating'approximately 13:3/e'inc-hes above ground level. .Y Y Y Y Vertical section 3 3 at its lower-end isbent rearwardly on a3 inch radius to provide an inclined portion 36 disf P OSed atanangleofapproximately 82" to veicalsectign '70 37. At its reariendt section 36 isbent downwardly lon :a

3.inchfrad.ius through an angle1ofl2 30":to provide av 33 -top ft1vide -a front-ground lengagingsection orfont second oppositely inclined section 39 the lower end of which is in turn bent upwardly around a 3 inch radius through an angle of 156 toprovide a forwardly and up- Wardly inclined section 41. The inclined section 41 terminates short of contact with horizontal tube 48 and its lower end'is flash Welded-as indicated at 44 to Vhorif zontal section 38 of tube v32 and preferably is inclined rearwardly toV form an angle C of approximately 75? `to the horizontal. A gussetplate 45 is flash welded as indicated at 46 to the tubes l32 and 43 at thev apex'of thei forwardly facing angle formedy therebetween. Gusset Y plate 45 is provided with a through drilled aperture 47 of 5/a inch diameter for a purpose to be presently pointed .v

out. i

It will be appreciated that the uniform radii'of the Y various bends in tube 32 providesV .fo'r a minimumj of bending equipment and greatly reduces thc chances; of

error lin production. Preferably a tube f 32- of suitable length to assure a finished front to 'rear dimension of 261A inches is utilized to assure stability ofthebenchhorizontal section 13S spaced above ground/level. The

rearsendo-f lsection 38 is'in turnbent downwardly around a .3..inchradius through` an :angle of i2 30' tofformla table when in use. Y formed in any convenient order, it has been found de sirable to rst -provided thev desired bends at each end of section 38 and then bend the front section 33 and the rear section 41.

The leg support assemblies 31 are completedvbyhorizontally disposed mounting tube 48 of linchoutergdiaml eteriitted with ra journal sleeve 49 encircling tube-48` adjacent itsrear end. Sleeve' 49 isflocatedxaxially :of

tube 48 by 1% Yinch* outer diameter retainer rings `51` and 1 52.'disposed respectively -at Vthe frontand rear ends of sleeve 149. The location of sleeve 49 is predetermined by locating retainer ring 51 a distance ofxlOl/z inchesfrom'- the frontend of tube 48 and tack Welding the ring to tube 48. The second retainer ring 52 is then disposed -against the rear end of sleevey 49,L sufficient clevsarance.:V being provided between the 'sleeve and rings Vto assurefree ljournalling of tube 4S in sleeve .49, and tack`1welded' to tube 48'. The front peripheral end of tube 48 is then Hash welded as indicated at 53 to the upper endof ver' tical section 33 of tube v32 and its rear end is Yash welded as indicated at 54 to thefront face of tube43'.`

As clearly shown in Figure 5, sleeve 49 at one side@ is provided with a right angularly disposed boss 55 the free; end of which is formed with `a cylindrical journal portion 56 ofreduced sizvegWhile boss 55 may bepro- Y vided vin any suitable manner, the present inventioncontemplates a solid cylindrical element having a curved seat 57 formed to closely lit the periphery of sleeve 49` and dash welded theretoat 58.

Thefreduced portion 56 of lboss 55 is disposedin an 1 aperture' 59 formed in predetermined position in a mounting plate 61 and has a journalledfit therein. While plate 61 mayassume any suitable formand aperture 59" maybe suitably located therein, it hasbeen determined,-

inch inwardly of `its longitudinal edgesto receive mountv' f A' y ing'rivets and provided with two transversely spaced j.

drilled holes located 2% inches fromVV the end opposite that containing aperture 59 and respectivelyl/a inchan'd 11A inches inwardly fr orntedgeZ provides a universal mounting plate foreither the right or left leg support assembly: merely by reversing ther faces as .will Vbe apparent fromgFigure 7. Y

Plates 61-are glistinguishableas rights and lefts only by thev-manner-.invwhich the leg securing .clips are While the various bends maybe annes ure 7) has clip 63 secured to one face by suitable rivets 64 passing through the mounting leg of clip 63 and the transversely spaced drilled holes heretofore mentioned while the right plate has the clip 63 similarly mounted on the opposite face of plate 61.

Plates 61 are preferably mounted in place to complete the assembly 31 by placing them clip face down on bosses 55 with reduced journal portion 56 extending through aperture 59 and projecting away from the plain face of plate 61 and flash welding a retaining washer 65 (Figure to the projecting end of portion 56 as indicated at 66. It is to be understood that washer 65 is axially spaced along reduced portion 56 suiciently to assure relative rotative journalling movement between plate 61 and the boss 55 and washer 65 as a unit. rfhis journalling movement in conjunction with the journalling movement of tube 48 in sleeve 49 constitutes a universal connection fabricated as a part of leg support assemblies 31 and adapts these prefabricated assemblies 31 for ready unitary mounting in desired position upon seat board 24.

While clips 63 are provided primarily to stop leg support assemblies in their proper support position when in use, clips 63 are preferably adapted to also provide a strong holding function to aid in assuring that assemblies 31 will not fail in use. To this end, clips 63 are formed of s inch by 1 inch spring steel having a flat securing section 68 terminating at one end in a partial loop 69 (Figure 6) having an internal diameter of l inch and extending from its juncture with section 68 through slightly more than 186 and terminating with a terminal tip 71 extending away from said loop end divergently with respect to section 68. Tip 71, due to its divergency with respect to section 63 provides an outwardly aring entryway for tube 48 when the tube 48 swings toward support position and cams the free end of loop 71 away from section 63 to permit entry of tube 48 into loop 69. After tube 48 reaches home position in loop 69, the resiliency of clip metal causes the loop to tightly grip tube 48 and the juncture of loop 69 and tip 71 is resiliently held at a level slightly inwardly of a plane tangent to tube 48 and paralleling section 68 of clip 63 to resilient lock the swingable leg portion in supporting position.

To facilitate ready assembly of leg support assemblies 31 on face 28 of seat board 24 in proper transverse position, the present invention provides spacers 73 in the form of fir plywood strips of 6 inch Width and a length just sucient to closely t lengthwise between reinforcing strips 25, in the illustrated embodiment a length of 151/2 inches. Spacer strips 73 are each provided with a 1% inch drilled hole 74 centered 2% inches inwardly from a longitudinal edge and 13.94 inches from the front end of the strip (the term front end having reference to the left end of seat board 24 as seen in Figure 3). At the time the 11A inch hole is drilled spacer strips 73 are also provided along each longitudinal edge with four drilled holes centered 1/2 inch in from the respective longitudinal edges and longitudinally spaced 4.33 inches apart to correspond in location to the spacing of the rivet holes in plate 61. Thus, when spacers 73 are located in position snugly between reinforcing strips 25 at the desired point longitudinally of seat board 24, they automatically predetermine the proper transverse as well as longitudinal location of the leg assemblies 31.

Mounting of the leg assemblies on seat board 24 is readily completed by drilling seat board 24 to receive the assembly rivets 75 (Figure 7) using the predrilled holes in spacers '73 as a guide.

Each of the spacers 73 and the seat board 24 immediately above them adjacent the back edge are provided with a 11;/s inch back-table support post hole 76 (Figure 5). As clearly seen from Figure 5, these holes 76 are inclined and formed partly in the strip 25. They the'r fore cannot be conveniently drilled from the underside of the seat board though they must be accurately located with respect to the leg mounting structure on the underside of the seat. To assure proper location, holes 76 are preferably formed by first locating their centers in the top surface of the seat board through a counterboring operation from the underside with a very small center ing drill. The centering drill is accurately positioned by locating a point on each spacer 73 at a distance 1% inches rearwardly of the intersection of the Wall of hole 74 with a plane containing the axis of hole 74 and extending in a direction parallel to the side edges of the spacers 73. The centering drill is then placed on this point of intersection, tilted in the aforesaid plane in the direction of hole 74 to an angle of 75 with respect to the plane of the face of the spacers and a centering hole is then drilled through the spacer and the seat board. Using this located center and a 1% inch drill starting in the top of seat board 24, the hole 76 may be readily and accurately drilled in the desired position and at the proper angle as shown in Figure 5. The top surface of seat board 24 is preferably spot faced to a depth of 1,/0 of an inch as indicated at 77 around hole 76 and brass bushing 78 of 1% inch outer diameter, 1740 inch wall thickness and having a C-shaped ange 79 (Figures 5 and 7)l is inserted from the underside of the top through hole 76. The upper protruding end of bushing 78 is then spun over to provide a securing ange S1 (Figure 5) seated inspot faced recess'77.

With the drilling completed, the leg support assembly is then placed in position with washer 65 and the end of reduced portion 56 disposed in spacer hole 74. The rivet holes in plate 61 are then lined up with the rivet holes in spacer 73 and seat board 24 and rivets 75 are set to secure leg support assemblies 31 permanently to seat board 24. This mode of assembly permits accurate prefabrication of leg support assemblies 31 by quantity production methods and the adoption of accurate assembly line techniques to assembly of the leg support assemblies. When assembled as heretofore described, leg support assemblies 31 may be readily disposed in stored position between seat board reinforcing strips 25 merely by swinging the leg assemblies around the journal axis provided by journal portions 56 or bosses 55 and then swinging the leg support structures downwardly around the journal axis provided by tubes 48 and sleeves 49. To retain the leg support structures in stored position, the plates 61 adjacent clips 63 are preferably provided with spring metal securing clips 82 (Figure 7). Clips 82 may take any suitable form but preferably constitute upstanding U- shaped clips riveted to plates 61 by Vrivets (not shown) passing through the bridge portion of the U-shaped clips. The present invention also contemplates leg reinforcing rods 85 permanently mounted on face 28 of seat board y24 and adapted to cooperate with apertures 47` in gusset plates 4:5. To this end, this invention contemplates a mounting plate 84 (Figures 4, 7 and 9). Plate 84 is made out of 12 gauge plate and is of substantially square coniguration and provides two spaced mounting posts 86 ash welded thereto as best shown in Figure 9. Referring to Figure 9, each post S6 comprises a tapered shank S7 provided at one end with a support base 88 having a short cylindrical mounting boss 39. Boss `89 is adapted to snugly tit in a mounting hole 90 drilled laterally of the center in plate S4 and is of a length less than the thickness of plate 84. The mounting boss 89 is welded to plate 84 as indicated at 91 to rigidly connect posts 86 and plate 84.

The small end of shank 87 has integrally formed thereon a ball porh'on 92 adapted to cooperate with socket assemblies 93 secured to an end of the respective rods 85. Since each of the socket assemblies is identical, the f0llowing description will be suicient for both.

Rods 85 each comprise cold roll tubular stock of receive infabutting.engagement` witheshoulder. 97 a.-solid.Y Y cylindrical Iplug 101 theI outwardly facing gend offwhichfis.`

ture .in adjusted position.

.jerfouter diameter.of%inch1andira reducedoendqaortionrarefdiar'netrioally; drilledi. andv'secured fagainstarelativet movementibyra Lrivet. 96.12 As fclearly' seen finrFigurefQ.

the'nvalletliicknessi-oplng194 forfanaappreciabl distance:

adjacent athe ljunction offthe -majorbodyxandzreducecl fp'ora tion'1f9'5'is -Iofeincrased (thicknessrforming thereby an out wardlyhfacing annular shoulder 97'at thefzinnenend internal bore Tof s/z inch 'diameter:threadedrinternallI .at its'f outer end. A The'speripher'al-Wall; ofntheathread portiomofr. plug594l closefto-.its Vouter .end .is provided:wvithzargplrality; ofthroughholesQS for a-purposefto be hereinafter pointedV outil At.,onefside of'- plug 94;.the ,-wallfdeningjhe-TS/s finch internal;borefisxprovided' withnaa pear. shaped thno'ugh' 'Y 991-fis suicientto freely pass-:balll portionf92 of post'fSG'- while "the-'smaller .portionwll noteV Y The-:inner endof thes/sfinch` boreis adapted' to loosely?v conicallytaperedinwardlyat-..162 to a diameter -ofAz inch..I 'Ihisxftapered end lhas its endface shaped Iin theform'- of. a ball-.-receiving'socket103`ofra curvature to: matingly4 y'engage ball 92. The length of ftheplu-ggllis-.such that 30 socket face lvflies. in .a1transverseplanerslightlyfoutwardly f from the` innermost vend of .thesmaller- .portion of Y yopening-99 so that', when ball 92 is entered through open'- ing 599;.axial-movement of .rod 85.1'nay-be yeffected to enL gage bal1.92 insocket 103,behind,the smallerpor'tiorr oft' op ening..99.= With/the partsfimthis` position. a second.l solid.plugf104.having a rsmiliar..coniigurationrto plugY 101V` andacomplementary ball` socket. and externally threaded.. to-engagel the threaded end of the 5A; inchlore.is-threaded.y intorpluge93 untilit .matingly engages.ball..92 between.: sockets-193. To this end,.suitablesdiametrically,.crossing screwdriver kerfs 105 areprovided the .exposed end of plug l.`` When. the desired.'rolling` tisobtained between' ball 92` and. sockets 103', oneofthescrewf driverv kerfs is. lined .up with opposedholesS-and .a lockingwire 106,'is' :threadditherethrough'` to positively lock. 'the struc? Itwill b'e appreciatedthat this. ball and socket `.connection. not .only operates f as a universal connection `Within.v necessarylimits but is -adiusta-ble throughthreaded Vplug 1021i tov takeupl for .wear use. Plate 84'at its four corner-sand at its center is drilld'toreceive rivets'A and whe'mplacedlin the desired 'position centrally oflgvsupf port" assemblies 31provides a guide fr drilling seat board" 24to accommodate rivets/S. which fsecure plate Siland rodsipermanentlv to seat .board 24.`

Tle'."opposite freeends of'rods' 85`are provided with, quick` connection couplings 109`adpted for ready associatin with gusset plates 45. lCouplings.1459'comprise a Vversely drilledgandpositively.connectedfby means of'a` rivet 1.14.1-,

Passage 113` preferably Has a major diameter ofi/16 75 ton-116*and a springrretainer'118heldsin-;the4foppositef. end of .passage-i113 bypeeningl over; the edges 'offtheftpasfsage 'as indicatedat-z119-resiliently biases ybutto'nf 116 `toiits-lt protrudinggpositiom- Y Rods; 85..-.inftusefrare z-swung Afrom-.fthe Astored fpositiona shown in Figures7, by releasing clips83;sirnilar..ixr.allre spectsto clips=82previouysly described;` graspingg,the-freeV connections-provided .throughf zplate 84 vandfposts 18t4toward' the support positionofligure '4. At thesam.e.time freed :leg-support 'assemblies `31 'are swungt towardthein.

support positioxrandY bull nosed ends-otplugs1,109fareensg 'l tered into'gussetplateopenings 47. As leg assemblies-31 are forced'home in.y their .retainer clips 16?,t button.. 116 .is

' pressed rinwardly-againstthe;resistanceof spring-,V117.to i

permit Ythe gurssetfplates` andI leg assemblies, toV reach.. the n supportposinons kof Figure'4 at which timetthe protruding` portion of-pinfll will bei disposed ou one-.side of gusset.

plate-l5V and ange.112.of plugy109 onthe other side.as,.

shown'.-in.Figl 1re-l0. Withthe ends ofrodseSS andfgusset 1 platesl'45disp9sed as illustratednFigure 10mov'ement offleg- `assemblies 31 in .either direction,fromverticalfsup;

porting.p osition :will engage the faces of the gusset .plates either. withl ange- 112 Vor pin .116. and.prevent further movement. lt .be appreciated,therefore, that ,the'reinf forcing' rods` 85 form an.. adequate -leg` y reinforcing and safety; functionhpreventing inadevertent movement of'le'gassemblies Sltfrom their desired lsupport position I,even though retainersl63 should `fail or a direct` separating force belappliedtofree leg .assemblies 31 from retainers 631.

As clearlyseen in Figure 7,' the' frontL seat'boardref inforcingstripZSfis notched 'at two longitudinally spaced" pointsindicated by numeral 121 "throughout asubstantial" longitudinal distance. These notches forma part of` lnger'openings 122V (Figure l) 'provided' for "ready'handlingoflhe storage or shipping Aunit 17'.

Back-.table boardl assembly 16 comprises aba'ck'fta'ble board".125'-oflplyr/ood' having reinforcing longitudinal" edge portions in-fthe forrnof ir strips,"126'Sidenticfalfto".V strips I25 except'the height Which is preferably 1% inches" instead`of.2%` inches.'` Since the"dimensionsof'back table board vand"itsmanner of construction*areridenticalv to that'of seat'b'oard 24' except for'theonedimensionf-V mentioned above, a detailed descrptiomthereof* is not` board '.providesan'open-sided, open-endedrecess^12f7I f adapted to`cooperatewithrecess '29' of'seat board-'24 when 5" reinforcing' portions N25k andV 126s are abuttingly" associatedl i astshown in Figures l vandi to form' a hollow storageUh space within. the:boxlikefY contines of theA mating seat'I hoard,l back-table board"storageassembly unit.'l

As heretofore suggested;l back-table boardassembly ldineludesa support structure adaptingbajck-table board" 12'5.to serve selectively` asa-bench back'or a table-top^i surface in conjunction withL seat -board assembly 117?V T" thisV end," this invention provides two support postes@ semblies. 129 best seen 'inFigure 8l Eachpostmassemblyr*v includes a post made of l1 innch'. outer diameter cold '.roll steellor aluminum tubinghaving, a long straigh'tseetion. 13'1lapproximately 241/2- inches -in'length'anrl' an :mgnlarlym disposed mounting section 132-approximately'7% ineliesl inlength. Tl'ie'se itwo, sections are joined'by acurvedrisection-1331 formedon a 3` inchk radius-liketle oth'etcurved" tube sections. Sectien'1`33is bent sueiently to disposeA sections 131 and"132' at' an included anglr ofi-105%"ie' 9 order that back-table board 125 will have a proper inclination when serving as a bench back and yet be supported in a horizontal plane when used as a table top.

Referring for the moment to Figure 8, it will be seen that the free end of section 132 is journally supported in a sleeve-like member 134 similar to sleeve-like member 49 of the seat board assembly, retainer rings 135 being provided to properly locate the member 134 on section 132. The member 134, like the similar seat board assembly member 49, has a boss and journal portion, formed as heretofore described in connection with mernber 49, cooperating with a mounting plate 136 to form a prefabricated support post assembly 129.

Mounting plates 136 are identical in shape and dimensions to plates 61 and are provided with the same rivet drillings along their longitudinal edges. Plates 136 are also provided with journal openings 137 (Figure 4) identical in purpose to openings 59 heretofore described but differently located. In this latter connection holes 137 are located on a center disposed inwardly from die longitudinal edge 138 a distance of 2 inches and inwardly from the upper end 139 a distance of 31/2 inches. Each plate 136 is also provided with two lateral spaced drilled openings (not shown) to receive rivets 141) for securing retainer clips 67 and 141 in place'on plates 136. These latter drillings, while suitably located as required, are in the prefabricated embodiment illustrated disposed four inches inwardly from the lower ends of plates 136 as seen in Figure 4 and 3 inches and 3% inches respectively inwardly from longitudinal edge 138. Clip 67 is identical in construction and operation to clip 63 heretofore described anda similar clip might be used in place of clip 141, except for the fact that the mounting of support post assemblies 129 on bench-table board 125 may possibly be slightly out of line with the mounting of leg support assemblies 31 on seat board assembly 17 thereby necessitating some slight variation in supporting position of one of the support posts in table supporting position.

To vprovide for such adjustment, the loop 142 of clip 141 is shaped to encompass post section 132 throughout 180 only of its circumference and the terminal tip 143 extendsparallel to the main body of clip 141 and its juncture with loop 142 is at the point of tangency between the plane of tip 143 and the portion of the loop remote from plate 136.

This clip construction permits the post associated with it to be disposed at a position between the main body portion of the clip and terminal tip 143 as well as in the loop 142 in order that lifting of back-table board 125 when in table top position will not dissociate post section 132 and clip 141. To prevent dissociation by forces applied lengthwise of the back-table board, the present invention also provides a leaf-spring member 144 having a securing section 145 riveted to support plate 136 and an upwardly inclined, laterally twisted portion 146 carrying a locking pin 147 adapted to engage in a mating hole 148 drilled in curved section 133 adjacent its point of juncture with support section 132 (see Figure 4) to locate the associated post in table support position.

Prefabricated post support assemblies 129, are assembled on back-table board 125 through use of predrilled spacers 149 in the manner heretofore described in connection with seat board assembly 17 Preferably the location for assembly of the nal back-table support post assembly 129 is determined by placing back-table board 125 in table position and mounting both posts in their respective socket tubes 43 of seat board assembly 17 and then shifting spacer 149 Vto a .position to properly cooperate with the mounting plate, the pin 147 having been previously engaged in its receiving hole 148 in its associated post. VFrom then on assembly operations are identical to those previously described in connection with seat board assembly 17.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4 for the moment, it will be noted that back-table board 125 when in its bench-back position is suspended from the support post universal connections with its lowermost reinforcing portion 126 contacting the support posts. To give greater sidewise stability to back-bench board 125 and assure its proper angular relationship to seat board 25, the lower reinforcing portion 126 is suitably notched as shown at 151 to freely receive the adjacent portions of post sections 131.

Referring to Figure 8, it will also be noted that both support post assemblies 129 are stored with their straight sections 131 extending generally inwardly toward the center of back-table board 125 and engaged by securing clips 87, similar to clips 82 and S3 previously described.

Since the universal connections of post assemblies 129v permit only limited movement of support sections 132 out of parallelism to back-table board 125 and the left hand post must travel around the aXis of the journal in plate 136 in a counterclockwise direction in order to properly enter clip 67, the upper back table board reinforcing portion 126 is longitudinally notched at 152 so the curvedsection 133 of the left hand post may swing freely through the necessary arc. A similar notch 152 is provided adjacent the other end of this reinforcing portion 126 and the similar notches 121 of seat board assembly 17 are matingly located to cooperate with notches 152 to together form the iinger or hand-hold openings 122 previously referred to.

A back-table board of the character here described when j supported in the previously described manner by support post assemblies will assume an offset relationship-to seat board 24 as clearly seen from Figure 4. While this offset relationship is not too objectionable and permits end to end disposition ot' a plurality of benches to form continuous rows of seats for auditorium use or spectator seating around a room converted to gymnasium spectator.

sports events, a preferred form of this invention contemplates a support post assembly which will eliminate this. offset relationship. Such a post assembly is illustrated in,V

Figure ll at 129A wherein the parts are identical to those previously described except for the post structures. clearly seen from Figure l1, post sections 131 and 132 are connected by a goose neck section composed of curved A section 133 as heretofore described and a second reversal bent section 154 also formed on a 3 inch radius as in tionship of post sections 131 and 132 but moves the mounting plate axis of the universal connection closer to the pointof intersection of the planes containing the axes of post sections 131 and 132. As a consequence, back-table board 125, as viewed in Figure 4, will be bodilyA moved to the left into alignment with seat board 24 and in table position, as viewed in Figure 3, will result in backtable board 125 also being moved to the left to overlap seat board 24 somewhat more. This latter effect provides a further benefit since vit moves the vertical force component due to weight of the table top and things supported thereby further to the left and further between the ground contact points of leg assemblies 31 thereby making the unit more stable insofar as weight supported by the table longitudinally continuous table with attached oppositely facing seating would result while in the second arrangement a single table unit having oppositely facing seats v would result.

Since exposed corners of plywood have a tendency to chip and separate, the present invention also contemplates capping the seat board and back-table board ends to ex- This goose neck connection maintains the previously described angular relationanimee-' 1 tendrthefnseful` life of:theqntoduct;` Thisscappingispl'feref ablyyei'ected by @spinning aluminumr stripemateriall; aroundsthe .endsmoffthe seat board1 andabackttablefboardz;

before the; reinforcing: portions f are: assembled fthereonaz provide Yasclshaped :metal caps V161 tas .shownsat-atheileft;

I of Figure 4. v i

Therpresentficombination: benchtablenunit may alsoebei provided with and readily store a seatcushion if desired` Torthis end, cushionw23:may=.be made ofany suitablercom: pressible Jsubstancelsuchi 'as foam: .rubbersuitablyf covered. Cushion =23"fmay Jae` secured tof-seat boardrassembly in any suitable` manner but f preferably employs .1 securingstraps V162 at. eacl'r side of fthe back-table support postsaateach'..

end and-'at-twoqnoints at theffr'ont 'oppositefthe baclcstraps:

The-free ends J:ofeach :strap-fare.y preferably provided.with. a femal'ef snap fastener element 163! (Figure `4) .adapted y to f cooperate with' .mating'male elements 164 (Figures 2 andj 7`) secured-'to the-inner faces ofrreinforcing portions- 25fand AEthe endsi-of-seat board innerfface 28;

rIlle!inventioni may be embodied in: other specific formsk without departing from thewspirit or essential.'character isticsr'sther'eof. The-present embodiments vareftherefo're Ito be; considered inall respects .as illustrativel and vnot resti'ictive,v the Scope ofy the invention beingindicated by i the'appended 'claims -ratherthan'by the foregoing description, and allchangesrwhich come withinfthe meaningand range of equivalency of the claims are-therefore intended tothe embraced therein.

What is .claimed anddesired 'tobe States Lett'ers Patentis: f f I Y l. A' combined bench-table unit comprising. anvelon gatedseat board; edgereinforcingv portionsldepending froml one face thereof vand forming-therewith la-recess; sup-V porting 'le'g :structures vof generally .planar form-enablng said "legf'structure `tobe stored lwith'in' said'recess; means Asecured by--Unitedf.

connectingj said 'leg structuresato lsaid :one face enabling-A saidfstructures to extend'in aplane transversefto said face'y and parallel to AtheWidth.offtl'ie'seat board;a1combined back-table board;V edge reinforcing portions depending from one:v face thereof and-'formingtherewith a recess,- one-of said reinforcing portions being notched at one point 1 at'l least'l along its free edge, saidI back-table board and reinforcing portions'being ofequal `dimensions-'to those oflthe seat board; a support structure for said back-table board comprising-tubular posts each having "a mainfsupport portion-and an angularly offset ,terminal portion,i saidlegf structure having sockets removably,v pivotally reeeivLV ing-"the reeends of saidv main-:supportf-port-ions of isaid* posts, .means spaced-'longitudinally of 2the recess nfacel-of i' sai-dbackgtable board universally connectingfthe freefends'` of isadzoifsetterminal ,portions of said posts Ltosaid `baek` table, board; for swingingfmovemenbto a storedposition:4 withinnsaidfecess and. tov atable.-v or'seat back positionn wherebyisaidseat boardgand back-'table board, with their;y

respective; support :structures in stored position. andttheir-.f

edge :reinforcing portions; cooperatingin abutting relation,

cooperatel'to form as boX-lik'efstoragef andtransfenunit with all support structure enclosed;` Aand tr'eleasable mea'ns;

` fonfconnecting-and holding fthe.r seat-board; and .back-.table together. innsaid abutting."V relation. i

board 1, edge reinforcingV ,portions tunedgusset platev secured :to;.each leg zgstructure, arpairrof@ leg:Y Supportf reinforcing rods; havingerespective;ends-i vformed i with retractiblez pins and .axially spaced". annulals 1r Y flanges Yspaced torigidly.{receive-therebetween:a; yltol't'nl-:tV

offthe respective gussetplatesnvhenfthe terminal-portions; of rsaid. ends and :said:retractibleV pinsfare passed throughs. thefrespective apertures-in. said gusset platess and .their oppositeends connectedto said onefaceof said seat board substantially at the centerthereof throughnniversal con:.-

nections adapting saidrespective reinforcing rods-toghe disposed, when uncoupled from saidgussetrplatea, in

. storedposition withinstheconnesof said seatboard strotagerecess .in generally; parallel relation -tot said. one eface..

Vcomprisinggan` elongated ,'seat board. composed: ofz-rela-iY tively'thin; bendable composition board;.a reinforcingjstripy second section.

thereof;v tand a.. securing '.clipfor each :ofssaidirreinfrcng' rodsetoe receives its :respective: rod-in its -fstored-epositiom and retain-it in stored position.

' 3.; A seat;board' assemblyfor a. combinedebenchftablc secured to eachlongitudinal. edge of 'said seat boardA 'com-1 prising-:a member of-a length equalntoatheflength'ofsaidi seat board and 1a lheight substantially greater than the i' thickness-lofssaidseatlboard, said reinforcing strippsfdee pending from one Afacey of said seat board" to= deine=a downwardly opening,- open-ended leg-lstructure-freceivingf space of a depth suicient-to receivetherein{foldawayflegl structures; anda leg structure assembly disposed. inwardly from` eachend" of 'saidseat-'board'and'eaehj comprising;v

spacer .means of elongatedV rectangular -congurationvdis posed with its longitudinal axis-transverselyr of "saidfseat', Y

board between said reinforcingstrips and vhaving adjacent*y one Yend. a through opening spaced'from vsaid-seatboardf a sleeve-like-journal. member fhaving a rightJ angularlyj" disposedv boss terminating in a cylindrical-'portionfof reduced size -journallingly cooperating; lwith Aand havingitsgend protruding through the opening'in said spacer-means,-' a washer secured to the protrudingY end of-said'cylindricall portion adjacent -to andc'o'operating withgthesurroundingj face of said-spacer means to retain said sleevedik'e member: in journalling cooperation insaid opening, means'f0r=se curing said spacer 4means in assembled relationto said-one face Yofsaid-seat board inzpredetermined position,andja retainer member secured to said sp'acer means ata locatiorr remote from saidsleeve-likejournal. member 'and` havingmeans to engage'arportion of 'said 'leg structure. when disposedin supportingposition tosecuresaid leg;y structurepin supporting position, saidgleg structuresbeing'7 formedaofgangularly related cylindrical tubular elements one .of which is a straightsection of a-length less thanthe distance between said reinforcing strips and'providesat... oneend the journalled vportion received by said "sleeveliken journalmember andanother of-Which is ang1.1la1ly in clined to said one tubular element and is disposed in sup;r

porting positionof saidleg structures ina commonplane with said one tubularelementwith an axis inclined .to, said.v seat board with an open end disposed beyond Ysaid one end of said 'straight section within the confines of the adjacent.

"reinforcing-strip and said seat board being provided opposite said open end with an inclined opening topermit entry:y of'asupport rod. of'fa `cooperatingback boardftable board into said oth'eistub'ular elementto besupported thereby;`

4;- Th'e `combination del-ined, .in claim 3 wherein; said inclinedseat board .opening is provided withametallic bushing adapted to provide. a` wear,surface-toreliminate.-

undue'wear of theseat boardv in use..

5; A combined back-.tableboard support'foraconvert l il'ilebenchfbench table having a bench legv socketftmre-U` 6.' A backftable board assembly'foracombined.bench;Y bench table comprisinga planan backtable board; elonvgated f in one direction; reinforcing membersy of. a thicke.` ness substantiallygreater-zthan the :thickness lofssaicl back-t` j table board extending along the longitudinal edg S;\.to.re;- iniorce said, back-table:board.longitudinally;` said, Y' forcing members protruding a substantial ,distanoei'beyp1141;. thefbottom surface of said. backrtablerboard ,todefinabletweeirthem anpopen storage1recess;: a support ypostnstzruce ture for said back-table board comprising two post elements of L-like form respectively universally connected at one end of the short arms of the post elements to said bottom surface of said back-table board at longitudinally spaced transversely aligned points adapting said post elements to be stored within said storage recess in parallel relation to said bottom surface with the long arms of the post elements extending generally longitudinally of said back-table board and adapted to be swung upwardly around the short arm axis of said universal connections and then swung in an arcuate path around the other right angularly disposed axis of said universal connections to position the long arms of the post elements selectively in one of two support positions substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said back-table board; at least one notch in one of said reinforcing members transversely spaced from the connection of one of said posts of a length sucient to freely pass the short arms of the post element when swung in its respective arcuate path; and means at spaced points on said back-table board and projecting beyond said bottom surface thereof to engage the respective post elements and maintain them in one of their respective support positions.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATUS PATENTS Cameron May 21, 1907 Puff Mar. 2, 1920 Floreskul July 4, 1922 Bresser Aug. 24, 1926 Slater Apr. 26, 1927 Flagg Nov. 19, 1929 Levedahl Nov. 17, 1931 Schalk Feb. 9, 1932 Mandl et a1 Nov. 27, 1934 Kindelberger Dec. 23, 1941 Cochrane Feb. 19, 1946 Schultz Oct. 12, 1948 Sykes Apr. l2, 1949 immerman et al May 30, 1950 Graham July 25, 1950 Kornmayer May 20, 1952 Johnson Nov. 25, 1952 

